Chef Areum Yoon has built her career through television talent shows, professional kitchens, and international experiences. These experiences have made her one of the most recognizable faces of contemporary Korean gastronomy. She will be the guest of the third stop of Chef Residency 2026. This project is promoted by the Prosecco DOC Consortium in collaboration with Tuorlo. It brings some of the most innovative voices of the international culinary scene to Italy.
An Immersion into the Heritage of Prosecco DOC with Chef Areum Yoon
Before the program officially begins in Milan, Chef Areum Yoon will visit Prosecco DOC Dreamland, where she will have the opportunity to immerse herself in the region through a journey that combines culture, traditions, and gastronomy. The experience will also include visits to selected Prosecco DOC wineries, providing first-hand insight into the history, heritage, and production excellence of the Denomination. At the conclusion of this initial phase, she will move to Milan to officially launch her Chef Residency program.
The residency dedicated to South Korea will take place from July 12 to 15 at House of Mediterraneo. During the residency, there will be educational masterclasses and all program activities. Under the guidance of Chef Areum Yoon, participants will engage in an intensive training and exchange experience, exploring Korean culinary techniques, ingredients, and food culture through masterclasses, hands-on activities, and direct dialogue. The program is designed to encourage interaction between different gastronomic traditions, celebrating conviviality and the values of Made in Italy promoted by Prosecco DOC, culminating in the final dinner on July 15.
Meet Chef Areum Yoon: A Global Voice in Korean Gastronomy
After winning over audiences with her participation in the first edition of MasterChef Korea in 2012, Areum Yoon has built a career that combines culinary research with communication. She further strengthened her reputation through her participation in Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars Season 2 in 2025 and her recent appearance on MasterChef Asia in 2026. This journey has established her as one of the most recognizable representatives of the new Korean culinary movement and an influential ambassador of her country’s gastronomic culture
Strategic Cultural Partnerships
Supporting the project is Milan Loves Seoul, which has acted as facilitator and cultural interpreter for the residency, fostering dialogue between Italy and South Korea and contributing to Chef Areum Yoon’s involvement in the project.
“Milan Loves Seoul was created to build meaningful cultural exchanges between Italy and Korea, and food is one of the most authentic ways to connect people. For this residency, our role was to identify a chef who could genuinely represent the richness and contemporary evolution of Korean cuisine. Through this collaboration with Prosecco DOC and Tuorlo Magazine, we created an opportunity for Korean gastronomy to engage in dialogue with Italian food culture, showing how two different traditions can inspire each other while preserving their own identity.”
Marcella di Simone, co-founder Milan Loves Seoul.
The creative direction of the residency will once again be entrusted to the culinary studio Tavolata. They will oversee the development of the gastronomic experience by highlighting the meeting of different culinary cultures and languages. The final dinner setting takes Korean culture as inspiration, creating an immersive experience that will guide guests through the flavors, aesthetics, and traditions of the country.
Both the residency and the final dinner will take place at House of Mediterraneo. This is the operational and cultural hub of the Prosecco DOC Chef Residency project. The venue reaffirms its role as a space for education, exchange, and cross-cultural collaboration among hospitality professionals from around the world.
Nurturing Talent with the Maestro Martino Food Academy
Maestro Martino Food Academy (MMFA) is the educational initiative of the Maestro Martino Association, for which Prosecco DOC serves as the Official Sparkling Wine. Chaired by Chef Carlo Cracco, the Academy was established with the goal of training future generations of hospitality professionals.
Through a teaching model that integrates theoretical education, hands-on experience, and collaboration with companies, schools, and institutions, MMFA supports young talents in culinary arts, pastry, front-of-house service, and management. With its educational restaurants and professional laboratories, the Academy has become a benchmark for excellence in gastronomic training in Italy, promoting innovation, social inclusion, and a tangible connection between education and the professional world.
Representing the Maestro Martino Association will be Chef William Caputo, who will work alongside Chef Areum Yoon, contributing to the exchange of knowledge and expertise that lies at the heart of the project.
Building Bridges: A Platform for Global Gastronomic Dialogue
Following residencies dedicated to Brazil and South Korea, Chef Residency will continue to build bridges among some of the most exciting contemporary gastronomic cultures. More than a simple calendar of events, the project serves as a platform for dialogue where established chefs and emerging professionals share experiences, techniques, and perspectives, creating exchanges that transcend geographical boundaries.
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